The Heir They Denied

He finally looked up, his black eyes deep and bottomless, devoid of any warmth.

"This isn't a discussion, Ava. I'm telling you what's happening."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to shatter my soul.

I let go of his arm completely, my body trembling.

In his eyes, I was a subordinate, a pet, a plaything. Whatever I was, I was not his equal.

"The Falcone family is in turmoil," he said, zipping the suitcase shut, his tone all business. "I'll be staying by her side to ensure her safety."

"If you need anything, go through my underboss."

He picked up the suitcase and walked to the door without a hint of hesitation.

"Matteo," I called after him, my voice choked with tears.

He stopped at the door but didn't turn around.

Moonlight spilled through the window, casting his long shadow on the floor.

"If you ever realize this was all a mistake, will you regret it?"

His back stiffened, his shoulders twitching for a fraction of a second.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke.

He answered, his voice flat. "A Gallo doesn't regret his choices. Everything I do is for the family."

The door slammed shut with a deafening bang.

I collapsed onto the cold floor, my hand resting on my slightly swollen belly, tears soaking my nightgown.

It's just us now, little one. But Mommy won't let anyone hurt you. I swear it.

Matteo never came back.

He was busy fulfilling his duties as a fiancé, only checking in on me occasionally with a late-night text.

When I stopped responding, his messages became less and less frequent.

When it was time for my next check-up, I went to the family's private medical facility alone.

There, I ran into Matteo's sister, Claire.

When she saw me coming out of the obstetrics department, she stared at me, her eyes wide with shock, before snatching the prenatal report from my hand.

Her voice rose to a shriek.

"Ava Prescott, you cheated on my brother? You're pregnant with some other man's bastard?"

"And you have the nerve to show your face at a Gallo family facility?"

Matteo and I had agreed to keep the pregnancy a secret until it was more stable.

The web of rivalries in the underworld was too complex, and we wanted to protect the baby.

I never imagined our caution would be turned against me like this.

I frowned. "Claire, I'm just here for a check-up." I clutched my appointment slip tighter.

"A check-up?" Her laughter was a grating screech. "For what? That bastard in your belly from God knows where?"

Other patients began to whisper, and nurses paused their work. I could feel countless eyes on me, watching the drama unfold.

"I'm carrying Matteo's child."

"Matteo's child?" Claire burst out laughing, tears streaming from her eyes. "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you're worthy of carrying my brother's blood?"

"Are you trying to use this bastard to trap my brother? Do you actually think you can marry into the Gallo family and go from being a nobody to the Don's wife?"

She lunged forward, snatching the appointment slip and ultrasound report from my hand.

"Give those back!" I reached for them.

Claire stepped back nimbly and tore the papers to shreds, tossing them into the air like confetti.

The pieces fluttered down onto the marble floor.

"You bitch, you're already fourteen weeks along?" Her voice grew more hysterical.

"Everyone!" Claire turned to the crowd like a mad orator. "Look at this shameless woman!"

"She wants to pass off some bastard as the heir to the Gallo empire!"

"She should be thrown out! Banned from ever setting foot on family territory again!"

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. Every breath was like swallowing razor blades. My face burned with shame as tears streamed down my cheeks.

"I'm not lying!" I screamed, my voice raw. "It's really Matteo's child!"

"Shut up!" Claire lunged at me.

CRACK!

A resounding slap struck my face. The force was so great I staggered backward. My mouth filled with the taste of blood, and a fiery pain spread across my cheek.

"You dare slander my brother?" Claire's eyes were as venomous as a snake's. "If you were really carrying my brother's child, do you think he'd let you come to an appointment all by yourself?"

"Ava Prescott, Stella is the one carrying my brother's true heir."

"You think you can seduce him for a while and become a princess? Dream on!"

She waved her hand, and two men in black suits immediately stepped forward.

"Get this crazy woman out of here!"

"What are you doing? Let go of me!"

Their hands clamped around my arms like iron vises, and they began dragging me away.

"Claire, you have no right to do this to me!"

"No right?" she sneered, following behind me, her face a mask of triumph. "I am a princess of the Gallo family. What are you?"

"A low-class commoner with no status. How dare you cause a scene here?"

"Take her to the estate. Let my brother see for himself the rabid dog he's been keeping."